CN111344112B

CN111344112B - Clamping device

Info

Publication number: CN111344112B
Application number: CN201880073444.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 石井幹人; 中岛俊和
Original assignee: SMC Corp
Current assignee: SMC Corp
Priority date: 2017-11-14
Filing date: 2018-11-07
Publication date: 2021-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-07
Also published as: BR112020009404A2; KR102374473B1; MX2020004915A; WO2019098099A1; CN111344112A; JP2019089090A; US20200346324A1; JP6751914B2; KR20200083593A; EP3710202A1; US11103977B2; TWI682828B; TW202017687A; EP3710202B1

Abstract

A clamping device (10) has a clamping arm (20) pivotably accommodated in a main body (16), and a positioning portion for positioning workpieces (W1, W2) is provided on an upper portion of the main body (16) (54). The positioning portion (54) is formed with a slit hole (60) which causes the claw portion (76) of the clamping arm (20) to protrude outward, and is provided with the slit hole (60) inside. Opposing and movable baffle (66). The claw portion (76) of the clamping arm (20) is inserted through the clamping hole (72) of the shutter (66). Then, when the clamp arm (20) moves and rotates in the body (16) in the axial direction, the shutter (66) moves integrally with the clamp arm (20) in the axial direction to cover the slit hole ( 60). Therefore, the opening portion of the slit hole (60) other than the portion occupied by the claw portion (76) is appropriately covered, whereby foreign matter or the like can be prevented from entering the positioning portion (54) through the slit hole (60).

Description

Clamping device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clamping device capable of clamping a workpiece with a clamp arm that is pivotable by a predetermined angle under the driving action of a driving section.

Background

The present applicant has proposed a clamping device for clamping a component (see japanese patent No.3941005) when welding the component such as a component of an automobile or the like.

The clamping device comprises: a clamping body; and a workpiece receiving member provided on an upper portion of the clamp body, a hollow positioning pin projecting upward being provided at a central portion of an upper end portion of the workpiece receiving member. The clamp arm is movably inserted into the inside of the dowel pin, and a distal end portion of the clamp arm is configured to protrude outward from a clamp hole that opens on a side surface of the dowel pin.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the clamp body is connected to the linear actuator, and the output member of the linear actuator is inserted into the clamp body and swingably connected at its end portion to the clamp arm through a connecting pin.

Then, when the pressurized fluid is supplied to the linear actuator, the output member is moved in the axial direction, whereby the clamp arm is swung within the clamp body, the workpiece receiving member, and the positioning pin. As a result, the hook-shaped end portions formed at the upper end portions of the clamp arms project outwardly through the clamp holes of the positioning pins and clamp the workpiece mounted on the seating surface of the workpiece receiving member. In this clamped state, welding is performed.

Disclosure of Invention

A general object of the present invention is to provide a clamping device which can reliably prevent foreign objects and the like from entering the inside of a main body.

In one aspect, according to the present invention, there is provided a clamping device comprising: a driving section having a displacement body movable in an axial direction by a supply of a pressurized fluid; a main body connected to the driving part and having a mounting part on which a workpiece is mounted; a clamp arm connected to the displacement body and pivotably supported with respect to the main body; a positioning portion that protrudes in an axial direction with respect to the mounting portion and is inserted into a positioning hole formed in the workpiece, wherein a linear motion of the displacement body output by the driving portion is converted into a pivotal motion of the clamp arm; a slit hole is formed in the positioning portion and is open in the axial direction, a claw portion of the clamp arm accommodated in the positioning portion protrudes through the slit hole, and the workpiece is clamped between the mount portion and the claw portion. In the clamping device, a cover member is provided inside the positioning portion, facing the slit hole and movable in the axial direction, the cover member being provided with an opening into which the claw portion is inserted, the opening facing the slit hole.

According to the present invention, when a workpiece mounted on the mounting portion and inserted with the positioning portion is clamped by the clamp arm, the clamp arm is moved in the axial direction within the main body and the positioning portion by the driving portion. Therefore, since the cover member moves integrally with the clamp arm while covering the slit hole, the opening portion of the slit hole is reliably covered. Therefore, even if the claw portion protrudes outward from the slit hole through the opening and clamps the workpiece, the opening portion of the slit hole other than the portion occupied by the claw portion is completely covered by the cover member.

Therefore, foreign matter such as spatter generated when welding work is performed on a workpiece held by the clamp arm can be reliably prevented from entering the positioning portion and the inside of the main body by the cover member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments and variations of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clamping device in one embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an overall cross-sectional view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 4 in a non-clamping state;

fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a locked state of the gripper arm under the lock switching mechanism shown in fig. 4 and 5; and

fig. 7A to 7F are perspective views of baffles according to first to sixth modifications of the present invention.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, the clamping device 10 includes: a cylinder portion 14 having a piston (displacement body) 12 that is displaced by the supply of a pressurized fluid (e.g., compressed air); a hollow cylindrical body 16 connected to the cylinder portion 14; a clamp 18 swingably provided inside the main body 16 and capable of clamping workpieces W1, W2 (see fig. 4 and 5); and a lock switching mechanism (lock mechanism) 22, the lock switching mechanism 22 being provided between the cylinder 14 and the main body 16, and being capable of restricting movement of the clamp arm 20.

Incidentally, the aforementioned clamp device 10 is used, for example, for holding sheet materials for automobile panels, such as the workpieces W1, W2, and in this way is used in a production line in which one workpiece W1 and another workpiece W2 are welded together.

The cylinder portion 14 includes: a cylinder barrel 24; a rod cover 26 connected to an upper end portion of the cylinder 24; a piston 12 movably disposed inside the cylinder 24; and a piston rod (displacement body) 28 connected to the piston 12 and movably supported with respect to the rod cover 26.

The cylinder tube 24 is formed, for example, as a bottomed cylinder opened at an upper end portion. Inside the cylinder tube 24, a cylinder chamber 30 of circular cross section extending in the axial direction (the direction of arrows a-B) is formed. A pair of first and

second fluid ports

32 and 34 are formed on the outside of the cylinder tube 24, into which pressurized fluid is supplied and from which pressurized fluid is discharged.

The first and

second fluid ports

32, 34 are connected to a pressurized fluid supply source (not shown) through pipes and a switching valve (not shown), are formed at a predetermined distance from each other in the axial direction of the cylinder tube 24, and communicate with the cylinder chamber 30 through a communication passage 36.

Incidentally, the first fluid port 32 is provided on the lower side (arrow a direction) of the main body 16, and the second fluid port 34 is provided on the upper side (arrow B direction) of the main body 16.

The rod cover 26 is formed to have a circular cross section, and a rod hole 38 into which the piston rod 28 is inserted penetrates the rod cover 26 at a central portion of the rod cover 26. A rod seal 40 provided in the rod cover 26 slidably contacts the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod 28. A rod cover 26 is fitted in the cylinder tube 24 to close an open upper end portion of the cylinder tube 24.

The piston 12 has a circular cross-section and is movably arranged along the cylinder chamber 30. The piston rod 28 is inserted into a central portion of the piston 12 in the axial direction and is connected to the piston 12. The piston seal 42, the wear ring 44, and the magnet 46 are fitted in annular grooves formed on the outer circumferential surface of the piston 12.

The piston rod 28 includes a shaft main body having a circular cross section, and extends a predetermined length toward the main body 16 side (arrow B direction) with respect to the piston 12. The piston rod 28 is inserted into the rod hole 38 of the rod cover 26 and is supported slidably in the axial direction (the direction of arrows a-B).

In addition, a bifurcated arm holding portion 48 is formed at the upper end portion of the piston rod 28 on the main body 16 side. The arm holding portion 48 is connected to one end portion of the clamp arm 20 by a connecting pin 52, and the connecting pin 52 is inserted into a first pin hole 50 extending through the arm holding portion 48 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Incidentally, a piston rod 28 is accommodated to extend from the cylinder portion 14 to the inside of the main body 16 through the lock switching mechanism 22.

The main body 16 is formed of, for example, a metal material, and is disposed coaxially with the cylinder portion 14 via the lock switching mechanism 22. The clamp arm 20 is swingably accommodated inside the main body 16, and the positioning portion 54 is mounted at an upper portion of the main body 16 with the holder 56 therebetween.

A mounting hole 58 (see fig. 1 and 2) for fixing the clamp device 10 to a production line is formed in a side surface of the main body 16.

The positioning portion 54 has a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction, and is provided at a side surface thereof with a slit hole 60 through which a portion of the chucking arm 20 can protrude outward. The slit hole 60 is formed long and straight with a predetermined length in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction) of the positioning portion 54.

Further, the positioning portion 54 has an annular mounting portion 62 that is expanded outward in the radial direction and is provided near a middle portion in the axial direction, and the mounting portion 62 is a planar shape that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the positioning portion 54. Then, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, when the positioning portions 54 are inserted into the positioning holes h of the workpieces W1, W2, the workpieces W1, W2 are held in a substantially horizontal position by abutting on the mounting portions 62.

On the other hand, inside the positioning portion 54, a chamber 64 having a circular cross section extending in the axial direction is formed, and the chamber 64 communicates with the outside through the slit hole 60. Further, a cylindrical shutter (cover member) 66 is provided inside the positioning portion 54 so as to be movable in the axial direction (the direction of arrows a-B).

Then, the positioning portion 54 is fixed in such a manner that the lower end portion thereof is fitted in the holder hole 68 of the holder 56 formed in a plate shape, and the holder 56 is fixed on the main body 16 by a plurality of bolts 70, covering the upper end portion of the main body 16. Thus, the positioning portion 54 is provided to protrude upward (in the arrow B direction) by a predetermined height with respect to the upper end portion of the main body 16.

The baffle plate 66 is formed in a cylindrical shape from, for example, a metal material, and is longer in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction) than at least the longitudinal dimension of the slit hole 60 in the positioning portion 54, and is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the inner peripheral diameter of the positioning portion 54.

Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the baffle plate 66, a clamping hole (opening) 72 is formed through the baffle plate 66 in the radial direction. The holding hole 72 is formed at a substantially central portion in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction) of the shutter 66, and has a rectangular cross section composed of two sides extending in the axial direction of the shutter 66 and two sides extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

Then, the shutter 66 is disposed so that the clamp hole 72 faces the slit hole 60. The other end portion of the clamp arm 20 (details of which will be described later) is inserted into the shutter 66, and a claw portion 76 (also described later) of the clamp arm 20 is inserted into the clamp hole 72.

The clip portion 18 has a long clip arm 20 formed of a metallic material and housed inside the main body 16. Since the connecting pin 52 inserted into the first pin hole 50 of the piston rod 28 is inserted through the second pin hole 74, one end of the clamp arm 20 is inserted into a space between the two-pronged portions of the arm holding portion 48 of the piston rod 28, and is pivotably connected to the arm holding portion 48. That is, the clamp arm 20 is pivotable about one (i.e., lower) end portion into which the connection pin 52 is inserted.

In addition, the other end portion side of the clamp arm 20 is accommodated inside the shutter 66 and the positioning portion 54, and the other end portion is provided with a hook-like claw portion 76, and the hook-like claw portion 76 is bent at right angles with respect to the longitudinal direction of the clamp arm 20. The claw portion 76 is formed to protrude laterally by a predetermined length with respect to the other end portion of the clamp arm 20, is inserted into the clamp hole 72 of the shutter 66, and is also inserted into the slit hole 60 of the positioning portion 54.

In addition, at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the chucking arm 20, the chucking arm 20 is provided with a coupling groove 78, the coupling groove 78 being constituted by a first groove portion 80 extending substantially in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the chucking arm 20 and a second groove portion 82, the second groove portion 82 being engaged with a lower side (in the arrow a direction) of the first groove portion 80 and bent at a predetermined angle. As the coupling groove 78 extends downward, the second groove portion 82 is inclined to gradually approach the side of the cylinder portion 14. The first fluid port 32 and the second fluid port 34 are open at the side.

Further, in a state where the clamp arm 20 is accommodated inside the main body 16, the connection pin 84 supported by the side wall of the main body 16 is inserted into the connection groove 78.

The lock switching mechanism 22 has a housing 86, a lock ring (lock member) 88 accommodated in the housing 86, and an end block 90 that closes an upper end portion of the housing 86, and a lock release port 92 opened at a side surface of the housing 86. The lock release port 92 communicates with the interior of the housing 86.

The housing 86 is formed in a hollow shape, and is disposed between and coupled to an upper end portion of the cylinder 14 and a lower end portion of the main body 16. The lock release port 92 opens in the same direction as the first fluid port 32 and the second fluid port 34, and is connected to a pressurized fluid supply source (not shown) through, for example, a pipe and a switching valve (both not shown).

The locking ring 88 is, for example, annular and tiltably disposed within the housing 86. The piston rod 28 is inserted into a locking hole 94, the locking hole 94 extending through the center of the locking ring 88. The locking hole 94 has a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the piston rod 28.

Further, a plate-shaped release lever 96 is provided on one end (i.e., lower end) surface of the lock ring 88. The release lever protrudes in a radial direction. The distal end of release lever 96 is inserted into a working hole 98 opening in the side wall of housing 86. Incidentally, the working hole 98 is covered by a cover 100, and the cover 100 is detachably attached to a side wall of the housing 86.

Further, a tapered portion 102 constituted by a tapered surface of one end surface of the lock ring 88 is formed and separated from the end surface of the rod cover 26. The tapered portion 102 may be slightly inclined toward the rod cover 26 side.

A return spring (elastic member) 104 is provided on the opposite side of the tapered portion 102 between the lock ring 88 and the lever cover 26. As shown in fig. 6, the lock ring 88 is urged and inclined by the elastic force of the return spring 104 in the same direction as the release lever 96 and the lever cover 26 are separated. Therefore, the lock ring 88 abuts against the piston rod 28 inserted into the lock hole 94 by the inclination of the elastic force of the return spring 104, whereby the piston rod 28 is in a locked state in which the movement is restricted by the resistance caused by the abutment.

Further, when the pressurized fluid is supplied from the lock release port 92 to the inside of the housing 86, the lock ring 88 is pressed and inclined in the opposite direction against the elastic force of the return spring 104, so as to be in the horizontal position. As a result, the piston rod 28 is released from the lock state caused by the lock ring 88, and enters a lock release state in which the piston rod 28 is movable in the axial direction.

Further, even in the case where pressurized fluid cannot be supplied to the lock release port 92, the worker can detach the cover 100 and push the release lever 96 downward toward the cylinder portion 14 side (arrow a direction) through the work hole 98, whereby the lock ring 88 is placed in a substantially horizontal position and the locked state of the piston rod 28 can be manually released.

The clamping device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above, and the operation and advantageous effects of the clamping device 10 will be described below. Incidentally, the operation will be described on the assumption that the non-clamped state shown in fig. 5 is an initial state.

In this initial state, as shown in fig. 5, the pressurized fluid has been supplied from the first fluid port 32 to the cylinder chamber 30 of the cylinder tube 24, while the second fluid port 34 is in a state of being open to the atmosphere. Thus, the piston 12 has moved upward (arrow B direction) under the pressure of the pressurized fluid and abuts the end surface of the rod cover 26. Further, the clamp arm 20 has been pivoted by the raising of the piston rod 28 so that the claw portion 76 has been retracted into the positioning portion 54 of the main body 16.

In the above-described initial state of the chucking device 10, the workpieces W1, W2 are conveyed by a conveying apparatus or the like (not shown), and the positioners 54 are inserted into the positioning holes h of the workpieces W1, W2. Thus, the one work W1 and the other work W2 are mounted such that the one work is placed on the other work on the upper surface of the mounting portion 62 of the main body 16 and held in a substantially horizontal position.

In this case, as shown in fig. 5, the claw portions 76 of the clamp arms 20 are accommodated in the positioning portions 54 and do not protrude outward through the slit holes 60, and therefore, contact with the workpieces W1, W2 can be avoided, and therefore, the workpieces W1, W2 can be smoothly moved onto and placed on the mounting portions 62.

After the placement of the workpieces W1, W2 is confirmed, pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid supply source is supplied to the second fluid port 34 instead of the first fluid port 32 by the switching action of the switching valve (not shown). As a result, the piston 12 starts to move downward, and this makes the gripper arm 20 connected to the piston rod 28 pivotable. The piston 12 and the piston rod 28 are moved downward in the axial direction by the pressurized fluid supplied from the second fluid port 34.

Accordingly, the clamp arm 20 is lowered so that the claw portion 76 is lowered along the slit hole 60, and the shutter 66 is also lowered together with the claw portion 76 inserted into the clamp hole 72. At the same time, the coupling pin 84 starts to move relatively from the second groove portion 82 of the coupling groove 78 to the first groove portion 80. The clamp arm 20 pivots counterclockwise about the connecting pin 52, and with this pivoting movement, the claw portion 76 starts to protrude outside the slit hole 60 through the clamp hole 72.

As a result, as shown in fig. 4, the claw portion 76 of the clamp arm 20 protrudes from the positioning portion 54, and abuts against the upper surface of the workpiece W1 mounted on the mounting portion 62 together with the workpiece W2, pressing the workpiece W1 downward, whereby the workpieces W1, W2 are clamped in a substantially horizontal position between the mounting portion 62 and the clamp arm 20.

Further, in such a clamped state of the works W1, W2, when the supply of the pressurized fluid to the lock release port 92 is stopped, as shown in fig. 6, the lock ring 88 is inclined by the elastic force of the return spring 104 and is inclined with respect to the piston rod 28 to be in contact with the piston rod 28 through the lock hole 94, so that the pivotal movement of the clamp arm 20 is locked in a state where the works W1, W2 are clamped.

That is, even when the supply of the pressurized fluid to the second fluid port 34 is stopped, the lock switching mechanism 22 can reliably maintain the state in which the work W1, W2 is gripped by the gripper arm 20.

Thereafter, in the clamped state in which the workpieces W1, W2 are clamped at predetermined positions by the clamping device 10 as described above, the welding operation of one workpiece W1 and the other workpiece W2 is performed by a welding apparatus (not shown). At this time, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, a portion of the slit hole 60, which is not a portion occupied by the claw portion 76 protruding outward, is covered by the outer peripheral surface of the shutter 66 disposed inside the slit hole 60. Therefore, it is possible to prevent spatter generated at the time of welding from entering the inside through the slit hole 60.

Next, a description will be given about a case where the clamped state of the workpieces W1, W2 is released (non-clamped state) after the welding operation of the workpieces W1, W2 is completed.

In the clamp device 10 shown in fig. 4, the pressurized fluid is supplied to the lock release port 92 to release the locked state of the clamp arm 20, and together therewith, the pressurized fluid is supplied from the first fluid port 32 to the cylinder chamber 30. As a result, the piston 12 and the piston rod 28 move upward (arrow B direction), and the clamp arm 20 moves upward while pivoting.

Since the connecting pin 84 moves from the first groove portion 80 to the second groove portion 82 of the connecting groove 78, the chucking arm 20 pivots clockwise about the connecting pin 52, so that the claw portion 76 retracts into the positioning portion 54.

At the same time, together with the raising of the clamp arm 20, the shutter 66 into which the claw portion 76 is inserted is also raised together.

Then, as shown in fig. 5, when the piston 12 moves to a position where the piston 12 abuts on the rod cover 26, the claw portion 76 is completely retracted into the positioning portion 54 through the slit hole 60 while remaining inserted into the clamp hole 72 of the shutter 66, whereby the state is shifted to the non-clamped state in which the state of the workpieces W1, W2 clamped by the claw portion 76 is released. Incidentally, when in this unclamped state, the apparatus is also in a lock release state in which the pressurized fluid is continuously supplied to the lock release port 92.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the clamp arm 20 is pivotably accommodated inside the main body 16 as a part of the clamp device 10, the positioning portion 54 provided at the upper end portion of the main body 16 is provided with the shutter 66 movable vertically (arrow a-B direction) together with the clamp arm 20, and the shutter 66 formed in a cylindrical shape is provided to face the slit hole 60 of the positioning portion 54, and the claw portion 76 of the clamp arm 20 protrudes outward through the slit hole 60.

Then, the claw portion 76 of the clamp arm 20 can be vertically moved along the slit hole 60 by the driving action of the cylinder 14, and even if the claw portion 76 protrudes out of the slit hole 60 and clamps the workpieces W1, W2, the shutter 66 moving together with the claw portion 76 can reliably close the opening portion of the slit hole 60 outside the area occupied by the claw portion 76.

As a result, for example, foreign matter, such as spatter, which is generated when welding of the workpieces W1, W2 clamped by the clamp arm 20 is performed, can be reliably prevented from entering the interior of the main body 16 through the slit hole 60 by the shutter 66.

Further, by keeping the claw portions 76 of the clamp arm 20 always inserted into the clamp holes 72 of the shutter 66, the shutter 66 can be moved integrally with the vertical movement of the clamp arm 20.

Further, by providing the lock switching mechanism 22 capable of locking the operation of the gripper arm 20 between the cylinder section 14 and the main body 16, even when the supply of the pressurized fluid to the cylinder section 14 is stopped, the lock switching mechanism 22 can reliably and stably maintain the gripped state in which the workpiece W1 or W2 is gripped by the gripper arm 20.

Further, the lock ring 88, which is a part of the lock switching mechanism 22, is provided with a release lever 96 operable from the outside of the housing 86. Therefore, even in the case where the locked state of the piston rod 28 by the lock ring 88 cannot be released due to the stop of the supply of the pressurized fluid to the lock release port 92 of the housing 86, the worker can manually release the locked state by forcibly tilting the lock ring 88 by pressing the release lever 96 downward.

Further, the baffle 66 is not limited to the cylindrical shape having a constant diameter as described above, but any of the

baffles

120, 130, 140, 150, 160 according to the first to sixth modifications shown in fig. 7A to 7F, for example, may be used.

First, as shown in fig. 7A, the baffle 120 according to the first modification is formed of a metal material elastically deformable in the radial direction, and is formed in a C-shaped cross section by a portion on the side opposite to the chucking hole 72 being cut away. The cutout portion 122 is formed at a predetermined region in the circumferential direction, and extends in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction). The baffle 120 is fitted in the chamber 64 of the positioning portion 54 while being pressed radially inward and reduced in diameter.

That is, in the shutter 120 of the first modification, since the portion opposing the clamp hole 72 is cut away, the insertability of inserting the other end portion of the clamp arm 20 into the shutter 66 can be improved by providing the cut portion 122, and the area in contact with the clamp arm 20 can be reduced. This makes it possible to increase the size of the clamp arm and increase the degree of freedom in design, for example.

As shown in fig. 7B, in the baffle 130 according to the second modification, a bellows portion 136 is provided, the bellows portion 136 connects the main body portion 132 having the clamp hole 72 to the upper end portion 134, and the bellows portion 136 is formed of, for example, a nonflammable resin material and is provided expandable in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction). Further, a spring 138 is provided inside the bellows portion 136, and the spring 138 urges the main body portion 132 and the upper end portion 134 to be separated from each other.

When the shutter 130 is raised along the positioning portion 54 together with the chucking arm 20, the bellows portion 136 is compressed against the elastic force of the spring 138 when the upper end portion 134 abuts against the upper end portion of the chamber 64, and therefore, the length of the shutter 130 in the axial direction (the arrow a-B direction) is shortened.

On the other hand, when the shutter 130 descends together with the chucking arm 20, the upper end portion 134 moves in a direction away from the positioning portion 54. As a result, since the bellows portion 136 is expanded by the elastic force of the spring 138, the upper end portion 134 is moved away from the main body portion 132, thereby lengthening the axial length of the baffle 130 to cover the slit hole 60 with the bellows portion 136.

That is, in the baffle 130 according to the second modification, since the axially expandable bellows portion 136 is provided, when the baffle 130 is raised, the longitudinal dimension of the baffle 130 can be shortened. Therefore, the height dimension of the positioning portion 54 that accommodates the shutter 130 can be reduced, thereby reducing the height dimension of the clip device 10.

Further, instead of the bellows portion 136 of the baffle 130 in the foregoing second modification, an expandable portion 142 of a telescopic configuration may be provided, the expandable portion 142 being expandable in the axial direction, as in the baffle 140 according to the third modification shown in fig. 7C. Alternatively, a cover portion 152 may be provided, the cover portion 152 being made of an axially flexible fabric, such as the baffle 150 according to the fourth variant shown in fig. 7D. Incidentally, the expandable portion 142 and the covering portion 152 are formed of a non-combustible resin and fabric, respectively.

Even in the

baffles

140, 150 according to the third and fourth modifications, the longitudinal dimension of each

baffle

140, 150 when the baffle is raised in the positioning portion 54 can be reduced. Therefore, the height dimension of the positioning portion 54 that accommodates the

baffle

140 or 150 can be reduced, thereby reducing the height dimension of the clip device 10.

As shown in fig. 7E, in the baffle 160 according to the fifth modification, the baffle 160 includes a cylindrical outer sleeve 162 and an inner sleeve 164 provided inside the outer sleeve 162. The outer tube 162 is formed with a first insertion groove 166 inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis, and the inner tube 164 is formed with a second insertion groove 168 inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis and crossing the first insertion groove 166 substantially perpendicularly.

Further, in the shutter 160, the first and

second insertion grooves

166 and 168 intersect with each other, and the claw portion 76 of the clamp arm 20 is inserted into both the first and

second insertion grooves

166 and 168 at the intersecting portion.

Thus, for example, when the clamp arm 20 is moved upward, the claw portion 76 is moved upward along the first and

second insertion grooves

166 and 168 while rotating the outer and

inner sleeves

162 and 164 in opposite directions, respectively, so that the slit hole 60 is covered by the outer and

inner sleeves

162 and 164.

On the other hand, when the clamp arm 20 is moved downward, the claw portions 76 are moved toward their respective lower ends along the first and

second insertion grooves

166 and 168. Thus, the outer and

inner sleeves

162, 164 are counter-rotated in opposite directions so that the slit aperture 60 is covered by the outer and

inner sleeves

162, 164.

That is, in the baffle 160 of the fifth modification, the outer sleeve 162 and the inner sleeve 164 rotate only and do not move in the vertical direction (the direction of the arrow a-B). Therefore, the height dimension of the positioning portion 54 that accommodates the shutter 160 can be reduced, and therefore the height dimension of the clip device 10 can be reduced.

Further, as the baffle 170 according to the sixth modification shown in fig. 7F, the outer sleeve 172 and the inner sleeve 174 are formed in a C-shaped section by being provided with cutout portions 176, respectively. With this configuration, in addition to the advantage of reducing the height dimension of the clip device 10 by reducing the height dimension of the positioning portion 54 obtained by the shutter 160, insertability when inserting the other end portion of the clip arm 20 into the inner sleeve 174 can be improved, and the degree of freedom in design of the clip arm 20 can be improved.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments and modifications. Of course, the present invention may take various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Claims

1. A clamping device (10), characterized in that the clamping device comprises:

a drive part (14) having a displacement body (28) capable of moving in the axial direction under the action of a supply of pressurized fluid;

a main body (16) connected to the drive part (14) and having a mounting portion (62) on which the workpieces (W1, W2) are mounted;

a clamping arm (20) connected to the displacement body (28) and pivotally supported relative to the main body (16);

A positioning portion (54) that protrudes in the axial direction relative to the mounting portion (62) and is inserted into positioning holes (h) formed in the workpieces (W1, W2) ;

Wherein, the linear motion of the displacement body (28) output by the driving part (14) is converted into the pivotal motion of the clamping arm (20),

A slit hole (60) is formed on the positioning portion (54) and opens in the axial direction,

The claw portion (76) of the clamping arm (20) accommodated in the positioning portion (54) protrudes through the slit hole (60),

The workpieces (W1, W2) are clamped between the mounting portion (62) and the claw portion (76),

A baffle plate (66, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) is disposed inside the positioning portion (54), the baffle plate faces the slit hole (60) and can be along the axial direction direction movement; and

The baffles (66, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) are provided with openings (72) into which the claw portions (76) are inserted,

The opening (72) faces the slit hole (60).

2. The clamping device of claim 1, further comprising:

A locking mechanism (22) configured to limit the pivotal movement of the clamp arm (20).

3. The clamping device of claim 2, wherein:

The locking mechanism (22) includes a locking member (88) which is tiltable with respect to the axial direction of the displacement body (28) and restricts when the locking member (88) is tilted Movement of the displacement body (28).

4. The clamping device of claim 3, wherein:

The locking member (88) is urged by the elastic member (104) to be inclined by a predetermined angle; and

When the pressurized fluid is supplied, the locking member (88) returns from a state in which the locking member is inclined to a state in which the displacement body (28) can move.

5. The clamping device of claim 1, wherein:

The baffles (120, 170) are formed in a C-shape in cross section and extend in the axial direction.

6. The clamping device of claim 1, wherein:

The baffles (130, 140, 150) are formed to be expandable in the axial direction in which the baffles (130, 140, 150) move.